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Duke   University  Libraries 

Circular  .,.(co 
ConI  Pam  #337 


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MEDICAL  DIRECTOR'S  OFFICE,         i 

Department  of  So.  Ca.,  Ga.  and  Ma.      S 

Cliarlesion,  S.  C,  Sept  25t!i,  1SC3.  > 

The  attention  of  MedionI  Oflicera  in  the  field,  is  called  to  the  following  commiini- 
■  ation  received  from  the  Surgeon-General,  relative  to  the  value  of  "  Oil  of  Turpentine 
as  a  remedy  in  Intermittent  Fever." 

1  am  instructed  by  him  to  direct,  that  "  in  view  of  the  scarcity  and  price  of 
"  Quinine,  this  substitute  be  employed  as  far  as  practicable.  Satisfactory  experiments 
"  liaving  been  instituted  to  show  that  the  local  application  of  this  remedy  has  proved 
•'  amply  suflScieut  to  interrupt  the  morbific  chain  of  successive  paroxysms  ;  one  appli- 
"  (.-aticu  only  being  requisite  in  the  majority  of  cases,  whilst  in  the  remaining  ones  it 
"  has  proved  fully  successful  in  preventing  the  more  serious  stage  of  the  paroxysm, 
"  viz.,  the  chill." 

"  It  is  necessary  to  state,  that  the  after-emplnyment  of  Bitter  Tonics,  and  also  of 
"  the  Liq.  Potassiae  Arsenitis  is  indicated  in  all  such  cases.  The  former  want  (viz., 
"  Bitter  Tonics)  can  well  be  supplied  by  our  Indigenous  Remedies." 

With  this  is  sent  a  Blank  Form  of  a  Report  in  which  it  is  desired  that  the  results 
attendant  upon  the  use  of  this  agent,  shall  be  embodied,  and  transmitted  Virough 
this  offioe  to  the  Surgeon-General. 

R.  L.  BRODIE,  Medical  Director, 
[nviR.]  Department  of  S.  C,  Ga.  and  Fla. 


OIL  :)P  TUBPKNTINB  A3  A  REMKUY  IV  I.STBRMITTKNT  PEVKR. 

"  I  Uuve  trio  J  it  in  over  IMHi/  cum,  aaj  hive  not  failed  a  single  time  wheu  the 
"remedy  was  used  as  here  directed. 

"  My  procedure  Is  as  folloirs:  tf  t!icr«  is  tulDciL-iit  ti  iie  before  the  hour  of  the  chill, 
"  I  reiuove  any  gcDeral  syiaptoiU'*,  as  coastipatlo3,  dryaess  of  skiu. 

"Half  hour  befjre  the  tl.n;  fjr  tlie  pjroxyi.n,  I  apply  arouad  the  body,  at  the 
"  lower  p.irt  uf  the  chest,  a  baula,'e  w<U  with  Tarpoatiae.  The  liaoa  is  replaced,  and 
"  the  outside  clothing  buttoned.  If  ci:iv>rtiieat,  I  place  the  patient  in  blankets  ;  if  not, 
"  I  make  him  keep  in  sight,  so  that  he  intjr  not  remove  the  bandage.  I  use  .1  strip  of 
"cloth  five  or  six  inches  wide. 

"If,  fro:n  any  cause,  the  oil  cannot  be  applied  to  the  body,  it  may  be  applied  to 
"  the  extremities,  care  being  taken  to  prevent  evaporation  of  the  remedy. 

"The  '  inoJiu  operandi'  is  evident,  by  the  general  impression  or  shock  to  the 
"symptom,  its  stimulating  qualities;  by  the  piin  produced,  and  by  its  effect  on  the 
"  mind. 

".Vlteati.jn  U  necessary  .»n  the  part  irf  the  urgeon  and  patient,  to  ilnd  out  «»tiU- 
'■  Inj  the  hour  for  the  chill  to  appear. 

"  The  disease  may  be  double  tertian,  or  may  gain  or  lose  an  hour  at  each  periodi- 
"cal  return.  Then  if  the  oil  is  applied,  .■«  as  to  be  in  futl  opartUion  ut  the  time  the 
'*  paroxysm  would  appear,  I  am  safe  in  saying,  tkert  wUl  b«  no  chill.  I  generally  let 
"  the  strip  remain  one  hour ;  but,  if  the  |«itient  sutlers  very  much,  I  remove  it  a  little 
"  sooner.  Nearly  all  on  whom  I  have  used  it,  have  let  It  stay  until  dry,  without  much 
"  complaint. 

"  The  remedy  is  rapid,  powerful  and  elBclenl,  but  not  no  aeoere  as  many  imagine. 
"  The  skin  is  not  left  swollen,  nor  so  sore  ns  from  mustard. 

"I  have  met  with  but  oim  case  of  swollen  tissui-,  iin  1  no  case  of  eezematous  vesi- 
"cle. 

"The  remedy  hiis  many  advantages,  it  is  cheap,  easily  obtained,  can  be  used  on 
"  the  march,  on  fatigue  or  picket,  and  no  bad  symptoms,  as  nausea,  and  roaring  in 
"the  bead,  follows  its  use.  It  is  easily  managed,  a  canteen  full  in  the  hands  of  .1 
"  nurse,  and  a  roll  of  bandage,  being  sudltlent. 

"A  question  yet  to  be  settled,  is  wlu-llier  or  n>t  the  disease  is  more  liable  to  re- 
"  turn  by  this  treatment,  than  by  the  use  of  Quinine.  The  constant  operation  of  the 
"cause  of  the  disease  will  favor  the  solution. 

"No  rational  Therapeutist  now  coututids  that  the  alkaloid  acts  by  neutralizing 
"  the  poison  of  ;siiasm  in  the  blood,  if  tht  more  sensible  view  is  adopted,  that  it  acts 
"by  a  strong  impression  on  the  central  nerve  centred.  That  impression  is  only  tem- 
"porary.  Therefore,  I  am  of  the  opinion,  the  lur|ienline  plan,  combined  with  the  ju- 
"dicious  use  of  arsenic  will  be  more  permanent  in  its  effects  than  the  use  of  Quinine 
"  alone." 


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